THE organisers of a major bike race have been told to help people on the route cope with road closures or the event will have to be called off.

We previously reported how 15,000 riders will descend on Worcestershire for Vélo Birmingham, an 100-mile closed roads charity bike ride.

Worcestershire County Council had agreed that roads along 60 miles of Worcestershire countryside could be closed for most of the day, in September, to allow the race to take place safely.

But, with the idea proving unpopular locally, the council has issued organisers with an ultimatum: sort out the plans or lose our backing.

The sold-out race will see cyclists travel from Birmingham through Bewdley, Great Witley, Stanford Bridge, Upper Rochford, Clifton-upon-Teme, back through Great Witley, Ombersley, Droitwich, Cutnall Green and Bromsgrove before returning to Birmingham on Sunday, September 24.

But people living along the routes say they will be trapped in their homes and traders have complained they will have to close.

Among those opposed to the plan is Paul Meier, from Eastham, Tenbury Wells, who said: "People round here feel it it is a casual and thoughtless piece of bureaucratic tyranny, backed up with the threat of fines if you are found on the roads affected.

"Without a rethink, I would not be surprised if there was civil resistance which will disrupt or halt the race.

"I know of at least two people who will not be able to get to work."

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, has called for a rethink over the "draconian" road closures saying a better plan is needed or the event should be abandoned altogether.

She said: "While this is labelled a Birmingham event, much of the riding will take place across our beautiful county roads.

She added: "While we welcome people visiting our beautiful countryside, this must not be at the cost of local businesses and local people."

Jon Fraser, head of highways at Worcestershire County Council, said the council had written to event organisers CSM asking for more detailed explanations of how road closures would be managed.

He said: "We've written to the organisers and pretty much said, if you don't satisfy us that all the safety management and mitigation arrangements are in place then we are not going to make these road closures."

Mr Fraser said organisers had previously promised to meet with individual businesses or residents to discuss access arrangements for them but this had not happened.

He is also concerned about safety after some people indicated they would ignore the closures.

He added: "I've been contacted by everyone about this, businesses on the route, parish councils, people who live along the roads and everyone is unhappy.

"As an authority we are not happy with the arrangements the organisers have got in place so far."

The council has given CSM until the end of the month to reply.